I'm calling for YOU!

OK..well after all this time of me moaning and groaning about the election, tonight was the night. I spent the evening at the Little Old Crone Town Barack Obama Headquarters making phone calls. It felt so damned good. I called number after number, most of them no one even answered.

Umm...thanks Caller ID.

Here is the drill.

Walk in, get my list. Sit down at a phone.

Start dialing...

"Hi, you've reached Minnie, please leave a message."

Now, good little phone caller that I am, I hang up and dial the next number.

Ring...Ring....

"Helllooo"...

OC: "Hi is Jack there?"

Jack: "This is."

OC: "Hi Jack, my name is OC and I'm calling from the Barack Obama headquarters here in Little Old Crone Town. How are you tonight?"

Jack: (said in a suspicious voice), "Fine."

OC: "Well Jack, I'm calling you tonight as a volunteer for Senator Obama, we would like to find out if you have made up your mind regarding the upcoming Presidential Election."

Jack: (said in a suspicious voice), "Yes, I have, but I don't tell no one how I vote."

OC: "Well OK then Jack, is there any information that you might want to know about Senator Obama?"

Jack: "No." Click...

OC: Sticks out lip and pouts.

This went on, over and over, but as the night wore on, my skin toughened up as proper Old Crone skin will do, and I stopped stumbling over my words.

I'll tell you, I haven't felt that good about doing something in a long time. I was dreading it a bit, because I was nervous about calling people, but it turns out, I was fine. At least, I am living up to my promise to myself I wasn't going to stand by and watch things happen, that I was going to do my part.

I met some super nice people tonight as well.

There was Patty: She looked a little like a 50 something Kewpie doll, dressed in a pink polo shirt and blue jeans. She had a nice bobbed haircut, and a very sweet voice, and looked neat and tidy, but not over the top, I instantly liked her.

She is passionate about this election, and has a lot of really good things to say. I sat there and watched her talk to people so easily about why SHE had to be out helping, and wouldn't they please consider voting for Senator Obama. She even gave a few of them her own home phone number in case they felt like discussing it at a later date. I was seriously impressed by Patty. She was a natural, and someone who has been spending entirely too much time watching CNN and MSNBC and now has an outlet for her energy.

Then there was "Fits." A huge yellow lab, who lays on the floor and gets up to come greet everyone that walks in the door. He was so friendly, but so calm, and he had his job to do. He did it with the practiced ease of an old hand. You can tell Fits has been on the campaign trail for some time, nothing seemed to phase him. He came over to me a few times, as if to reassure me that I was doing a good job, then he would go back to his place in the middle of the room waiting for the next person to come in the door. He didn't miss greeting even one. An excellent ambassador.

Then there was "Dan." Dan had to have been in his 50's, with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail, and a very plump oversized body to go with his over sized voice. He was very good at explaining to me what I needed to do. He was also very appreciative of me coming in and making calls.

Next, was Kristin, who couldn't have been more than 21 or 22. Very peppy, and she looked lovely in her Obama T Shirt. She was really good at making calls, and was very free with the beer, coffee, water and soda.

There were a few other people in and out, and they all had the same vibe about them. Determined, Calm, and sure. It was a great atmosphere. I felt like I was soaking it up like a sponge. To finally be around a group of people (and dogs) that where in the same place emotionally as I, was such an amazing lift for me. I felt finally like I was at home. I could open my mouth and talk the talk and people were willing to listen.

I went from being depressed about it all tonight, to feeling like I' I could do something to turn it just the tiniest bit. In the process, I've finally met up with a group of people I think are accepting, and care about the same issues as I do. What an incredible relief.

On too other news, I spent the night last night cheering myself up watching old clips of Gilda Radner as Roseanne Roseanna Danna.. and Emily Latella. I miss that woman so much. She is hands down my favorite Saturday Night Player, and I love Gene Wilder for how he took care of her, how he loved her, and how wonderfully he played Willy Wonka. I still haven't been able to watch the remake, it's just not Willy Wonka.

I'm digressing. Anyway, I got my fill of "Jane, you ignorant slut." and "It just goes to show you, its always something." I've watched SNL over the years, but have never really gotten into the newer versions like I did the old one. They are funny, but it's always a let down for me that it's not Gilda, Jane, Lorraine Neuman, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase or Dan Akroid. Nothing was better than that..I'm a creature of habit. I spent way too many nights in my 20's staying up to watch reruns of SNL. I would watch until "weekend update" came on, if Gilda was on, I'd watch the whole show, if she wasn't, off went the TV and off to bed.

There is no point to this post, except that tonight, for the first time since this whole thing started, I really felt fulfilled and not angry and helpless.

Get out there everyone, get out there and work for this election!!!

Peace,

OC